I have always envied girls who are naturally good at styling hair. You know, those friends who casually create an intricate up-do, or produce a mane of gorgeous curls with a simple twist of the iron. I envy those girls because I am definitely not one of them. In fact, I am completely inept when it comes to hair. I can’t count how many times I have spotted a hairstyle in a magazine, bought the products the stylist recommends, followed the steps exactly as written and ended up with a complete mess of a hairdo that looks nothing like the picture. Over the years I have given up on my hairstyling abilities and resigned to using the easiest and most boring tool on the market: the hair straightener. Day after day, I straighten my hair the same way, turning my naturally voluminous locks into a simple, uniformed lump. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t hate my hair. I love the color and am pretty happy with the length. I just wish I knew how to mix up my look, adding style and pizzazz whenever I felt like it. Which brings me to my first official experiment.
For my first intern experiment, I am going to style my hair differently every day this week—without doing anything to the cut or color. Every day, I am going to reflect on the hairstyle I created and report on the degree of difficulty, how long it took to create, and which products I used. And since I believe hair is a key component to any ensemble, I am going to write and post pictures about what I wore with the hairstyle.
Day 1
Today I met with master stylist, Nikki Ruby, of the Pyara Aveda salon in Cambridge, MA. She showed me a variety of easy (or so she claims) ways I can change up the texture, style and overall look of my hair. She also shared some really useful styling tips for ways to add volume, combat frizz, and work with products that I always wanted to try, but never knew how. But I’ll divulge Nikki’s secrets later. Let’s start with look one.
While this look might seem obvious and simple, I felt it was important to include it for several reasons. First of all, I know very few people who have mastered the perfect blowout. We all want to achieve that bouncy, just left the salon look, but don’t know how to do it. The basic blowout is also the basis for many other looks, as it is much easier to create interesting up-dos and fun hairstyles when you start with a smooth, yet voluminous shape.
Nikki began the blowout by creating a very deep side part and waving the hair dryer back and forth in quick, jerky motions. She said the hair dryer should be in constant motion until the hair is almost completely dry and that my elbow should never be above my shoulder (I always thought I had to raise it above my head!). She also showed me how to add volume by leaning my head to the side and into the blow dryer. When most of my hair was dry, Nikki began creating a side-swept bang by brushing them from side to side with a flat brush. She finished the look using a big round brush, but said I could use a straightener to achieve the same effect if I was uncomfortable with the brush.
Look 1: Basic Blowout
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Products and Tools:
- Hair dryer with attached nozzle
- Smoothing crème (work through hair before and after blow drying, if desired)
- Flexible hold hair spray (spray afterwards to solidify the shape)
What I wore:
This patterned wrap dress mimics the relaxed, 60’s-inspired shape of my hair. The hairstyle is fun, yet professional, and I wanted my ensemble to reflect that.
Trick of the Trade:
Always make a deeper part than you think you want, because it will create more volume and it’s much easier to minimize the part later, but nearly impossible to do the opposite. Also, always use a nozzle at the end of your blow dryer; it protects your hair and creates a smoother look.
Day 2
Happy Birthday Mr. President! In honor of George, Abe, and the rest of our founding fathers, I didn’t have any work or school, and committed myself to an entire day of homework and club meetings. I knew I needed a no-fuss style that would keep my hair away from my face and since my hair was already styled from the blowout, this look couldn’t have been easier to create!
I took a small section of hair (about ¼ inch thick) and twisted it backwards towards the crown of my head. Then I secured it in place with a bobby pin.
Look 2: Side-Twist
Level of Difficulty: Super Easy
Products and Tools:
- Styling Crème (use a tiny dab in your hands to smooth out frizz and fly-aways)
- 1 Bobby Pin
- Hair Spray
What I wore:
Since I knew I was going to be in homework mode all day, I wanted to wear something casual and comfortable. I decided on a navy striped top with gray skinny jeans. The overall look felt cozy, but pulled-together.
Trick of the Trade:
Wedge the bobby pin into the hair as snugly as possible. It will hold hair more securely and appear less noticeable.
Day 3
One of the best pieces of advice the stylist gave me was that I shouldn’t be afraid to have fun with accessories and push the envelope a little. I decided to take her advice and honor a decade that has been very on-trend this season, and happens to be one of my personal fashion favorites: the seventies. Oh, the seventies. A time of protests, women’s liberation, and really awesome headbands…
I started with a basic blowout, but added some bouncy flare, by putting in Velcro rollers while I did my makeup. I used the big rollers all over my hair, starting with the crown of my head and working my way around. It took about 5 minutes to set and was the easiest hair appliance I’ve ever worked with! When I was ready to leave, I took the rollers out, parted my hair down the middle and finished it with a spritz of hair spray.
Look 3: That Seventies Style
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Products and Tools:
- Velcro Rollers
- Funky Headband
- Hair spray
What I wore:
I decided to go all out with this look and pair my seventies strands with hot pink corduroy flare pants, a white button-down with ruffle detailing and jean vest that features a pink flower print on the back. I thought this look was really fun and I swear it added a little pep in my step for the rest of the day!
Trick of the Trade:
Spray hair spray in quick bursts. If you hold your hand on the nozzle for a long time, the ratio of liquid to air pressure changes and the product isn’t as effective.
Day 4
Now don’t get me wrong, I do take showers. But today was one of those days when I simply didn’t have time to wash my hair and the grease factor was getting a little too gross to handle. Enter in the chic ponytail!
I was really excited when Nikki taught me this style in particular, because I often try to look sophisticated with my hair in the ponytail, and always end up looking like a sloppy mess. But by creating a subtle part and dividing my hair into 3 sections (back, right and left), I was able to finally achieve (or at least come close to achieving) that casual elegance I desired. First, I pulled my hair in back into a low ponytail. Then, I twisted the right-hand section of hair around the elastic and secured it with a pin and repeated this step with the left section. This look was fairly simple and didn’t take long, but it definitely took me a couple tries to get the hair wrapped around the elastic—those bobby pins are tricky little buggers!
Look 4: Chic Ponytail
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Products and Tools:
- Bobby Pins (about 4)
- Elastic Band
- Hair Spray
What I wore:
Today I interned in the HC office and headed to school afterwards. I needed to look professional and stylish, but still comfortable during my 10am-10pm workday. I love this look because the sequined bow on the vest adds a flash of glamour, while the white button-down keeps the ensemble crisp and professional. I also wore my pearl drop earrings, which looked great with the ponytail!
Trick of the Trade:
Nikki says teasing your hair at the crown of your head beforehand will give the ponytail extra volume and flare.
Day 5
It’s time to go au naturel…with my hair that is. I’ve always wanted to be able to enhance my naturally wavy hair, and create that carefree, beach-like look. Unfortunately, every time I’ve attempted to scrunch or curl, I end up looking like an electrocuted poodle. But after watching Nikki create the pretty waves I had always envisioned, I was confident I could at least attempt the look…
I began by working a small dab of curling crème throughout my hair and twisting small sections of hair around my head (the larger the section of hair you use, the bigger the curl will be). Then I held the diffuser to the end of each section of hair until it was completely dry. This look was really easy to do and I was surprisingly pleased with the results. I don’t usually spend that much time on my hair in the morning, but I let the curls air dry a little while I did my makeup, so it wasn’t too time consuming, and the morning shower definitely helped wake me up.
Look 5: Beach Waves
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Products and Tools:
- Aveda Curling Crème
- Diffuser (I bought a universal one that works with most hair dryers)
What I wore:
I wanted to wear something whimsical to match my somewhat wild hair, so I decided on polka-dotted bloomers (because you can’t get more whimsical than polka dots) with a cream-colored ruffle cardigan and brown suede cowboy boots.
Trick of the Trade:
Scrunching your hair will break apart the curl. Instead, maximize your waves by leaning to the side as you diffuse.
Day 6
Today is one of those quintessential Boston days. Freezing temperatures and icy rain, with a bit of snow thrown in, just for fun. But while the weather was horrendous, it did provide the perfect opportunity to try out the messy bun.
My hair was already curly from the day before, so the wild texture created the perfect foundation for this look. I started by parting my hair on the right and dividing it into 4 sections: 2 in back and 1 on each side. I took one of the back sections, twisted it into a bun, and secured it with a bobby pin. Then I repeated that step 3 times, twisting every section around the first bun. I left some of my hair out to soften the look, and added a bow to pull it all together. This style is perfect if you’re in a rush, but definitely requires some practicing with those bobby pins!
Look 6: Messy Bun
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Products and Tools:
- Bobby Pins (about 6)
- Headband (if desired)
- Hair Spray
What I wore:
I had a HC meeting today and needed to wear something chic and fuss-free, but that still complemented this girly hairstyle. I thought a pink cashmere sweater with black detailing, navy sequined bow, and black skinny jeans did the trick!
Trick of the Trade:
Parting your hair and keeping the bun low makes this look instantly more sophisticated than if you pile your hair on top of your head.
Day 7
As my week of exp-hair-imenting comes to an end, I wanted to revisit a look that I never thought I would actually be able to do and give it a twist.
Out of all the styles, I was most surprised by how easy it was to achieve the wavy look and even more shocked that I actually liked it. This time, I pulled the front of my hair back and secured it with a bobby pin to create a mini pompadour.
Look 7: Waves with a Poof
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Products and Tools:
- Curling Crème
- Diffuser
- 1 Bobby Pin
What I wore:
Since my hair was a little wild, I kept my outfit simple and wore a Burberry cardigan with a mustard-colored skirt and brown riding boots.
Trick of the Trade:
If you do want to tease your hair before creating the poof, brush the part you want teased in the shape of the letter “D” 2-3 times.
My week of exp-hair-imentation really paid off. Not only do I feel more confident switching up my hair, but I also learned to have little more fun with my overall style. Sometimes I left my apartment a little worried I was trying to push the envelope a little too far, but I told myself I looked great and walked through the day with my chin held high and a strut in my step. As the day progressed and I received a few compliments, I realized that achieving an awesome hairstyle is really just about mastering a few simple tricks and a whole lot of confidence.
If you know how to create any easy and fun looks, I would love to hear them.